“Mechanically- challenged” youth have trouble with basic skills

September 14, 2011

An article in Macleans Magazine looks at a decline in manual skills amongst youth and shows that the basics such as how to hold a hammer and turn a screwdriver are mysteries for many youth. The lack of basic skills and work ethic is causing problems in a number of trades from engineering and architecture to all of the construction and auto trades. The decline relates to a number of changes over the past 50 years from the decline in shop classes to the reliance on computers to a lack of developmental skills in babies children who spend less time on the ground exploring objects and more with computerized games. The only solution seems to be a return to the basics. Read article here.